Differentiation in dystrophic muscle cultures from mice of different ages

Abstract
Muscle from dystrophic (129 ReJ dy/dy) mice, aged 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months, was cocultured with normal embryonic mouse spinal cord. Cultures were scored for regeneration (myotubes) and differentiation (cross‐striated or contracting fibers) over a 28‐day period. Although muscle from dystrophic mice of all ages was able to regenerate, the ability to differentiate decreased with the increasing age of the mouse. Muscle from litter‐mate control mice of different ages regenerated and differentiated equally well.